51st Guards Artillery Brigade | |
---|---|
Active | 1942–present |
Country | Soviet Union (1942–1991) Belarus (1992–present) |
Branch | Soviet Army (1942–1991) Belarusian Ground Forces (1992–present) |
Type | Artillery |
Garrison/HQ | Osipovichi |
Engagements | World War II |
Decorations | |
Battle honours | Orsha |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel Aleksey Ratushny |
The 51st Guards Artillery Brigade (Military Unit Number 12147)[1] is an artillery brigade of the Belarusian Ground Forces, based at Osipovichi.
Formed in 1942 during World War II as the 83rd Corps Artillery Regiment, the unit was made an elite Guards military unit, the 83rd Guards Howitzer Artillery Regiment in mid-1943 for its actions in the Battles of Rzhev. The regiment fought in the Battle of Smolensk and Operation Bagration before advancing into the Baltic states, ending the war in the Battle of Königsberg. Postwar, it went through several reorganizations and was relocated to Osipovichi in 1960, when it became the 121st Guards Artillery Brigade. In 1972, the brigade was expanded into the 51st Guards Artillery Division.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the unit became part of the Belarus Ground Forces, and in 1996 became the 51st Guards Central Artillery Reinforcement Group. In 2004 it was redesignated as the 51st Guards Mixed Artillery Group, before becoming the 51st Guards Artillery Brigade, its current title, in 2014.